Annelies Decloedt
Annelies Decloedt is an associate professor at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (Belgium). Annelies graduated as an equine veterinarian in 2008 from Ghent University, Belgium. She immediately started a PhD fellowship in the field of equine cardiology at Ghent University funded by the Research Foundation Flanders, investigating new echocardiographic techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging and two-dimensional speckle tracking for quantifying cardiac function in horses. This PhD was completed in 2012 and was followed by continued clinical research as a postdoctoral research fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders in the field of equine cardiology, ultrasound and exercise physiology. The project focused on right heart function in equine athletes and horses with pulmonary hypertension due to equine asthma. As a member of the Equine Cardioteam Ghent, she is actively involved in research and clinical work in equine cardiology. She coordinates and participates in several research projects regarding improved diagnosis and treatment of mitral and aortic valve regurgitation and cardiac arrhythmias in horses.
In 2015, Annelies was appointed as assistant professor in veterinary clinical and communication skills at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University. She is responsible for the courses “Clinical and communication skills” which run from the second until the fifth year of the six year program of Master in Veterinary Sciences. She developed and launched the veterinary skills laboratory for teaching veterinary clinical skills at Ghent University. In the skills laboratory, dummy models and simulators are used for teaching various skills such as injections or surgery. Flipped classroom teaching and blended learning is an essential part of the skills laboratory training. Annelies is also responsible for developing and teaching the communication skills training program, which includes both theoretical classes as well as many practical exercises including peer-to-peer role play, video analysis and role play using volunteers as simulated clients.